Environmental Noise

 

The acquisition of planning permission for a new building project is often contingent on the impact of noise - from both the construction site and the completed building - on noise levels in the immediate area. A common request is for an initial site survey to be carried out to ascertain the existing noise levels of a proposed construction site and determine how the completed building will affect the surrounding area.

Stroma can conduct pre-application measurements and site assessments to satisfy such requests, liaising with both architects and local planning and environmental health officers.

This includes:

• Taking measurements to confirm planning conditions and negotiations for variations
• Undertaking Planning Policy Guidance assessments under PPG24 and BS4142
• Identifying prospective complaints that may arise from existing sites

Where a developer is hoping to obtain planning consent for new housing, an assessment under Planning Policy Guidance Note 24 (PPG24) can be undertaken and a report produced. This can usually be conducted within two weeks of receiving the request. Where industrial developments are taking place, measurements and assessments using British Standard 4142 are carried out. These are weather dependent - as with PPG24 assessments - but can usually be undertaken within two weeks of a request. Assistance is also available for developers who are planning and building new schools. Advice can be given from the design stage through to completion, using Building Bulletin 93 (BB93).

Stroma provides:

• Measurements to confirm planning conditions and negotiations for variations
• Planning Policy Guidance assessments (PPG24, BS4142 & BB93)
• Noise measurement surveys
• Statutory noise nuisance - advice and appeals
• Measurement and prediction of transportation noise
• Construction site and demolition noise and vibration
• Advice on legislation

Download Planning Policy Guidance 24: Planning and Noise

 

 

Architectural Noise

 

Acoustic performance is a critical factor in assessing whether a building is fit for purpose. Poorly designed and constructed structures and details can render areas of a building unsuitable for their intended function. Stroma can offer early advice to architects, with design brief meetings usually proving a valuable resource. Regular contact throughout the construction process ensures that variations are quickly assessed and this assists architects in meeting deadlines. In the event of industrial or commercial noise control issues - caused by the building's services - Stroma can undertake noise and vibration measurements and provide potential solutions. We can identify the façade reductions required to achieve the noise levels and speech intelligibility standards set out in international documentation.

We offer:

• Sound insulation testing to comply with Building Regulations Approved Document Part E (ADE)
• Prevention of external noise intrusion via façade design input
• Achievement of required speech intelligibility levels
• Industrial and commercial noise control
• Advice on noise control measures
• Noise and vibration measurements and solutions in the event of interference caused by the building's services

 

Pre-Completion Testing

 

Revised in 2003, Approved Document Part E - 'Resistance to the Passage of Sound' - now calls for all new and refurbished domestic developments to conform to a more rigorous noise management regime.

Stroma has the necessary expertise and experience to make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible. We hold current UKAS accreditation, enabling us to perform site based sound insulation testing, as required by Part E. Consequently, we can provide the final testing necessary for compliance with the required regulations. Moreover, we offer our expertise from the initial stages of the development - typically by way of design review workshops - to ensure the proposed construction details will meet the requirements of the regulations.

Our Sound Insulation Testing is suitable to cover the following standards:

• Building Regulations Approved Document Part E
• EcoHomes
• Code for Sustainable Homes Developments
• Initial testing of PROPOSED Robust Details
• Testing of separating elements in schools (BB93) and offices

In the event of a failure:
If - through testing - it is found that any element has failed to meet the required standard, we can propose suitable remedial works.

 

Educational Buildings

 

Educational buildings need careful consideration with regards to acoustic design. Not only do they need to provide quiet areas for study, but they also need to allow effective projection of teachers' voices. The government has published a document - Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) - which outlines minimum performance guidelines for the acoustic design of schools.

Building Bulletin 93
This document falls under the Building Regulations (Part E4) and requires that all newly built, converted, or extended school buildings meet minimum acoustic design criteria - encompassing all acoustic properties (not just sound insulation). This regulation is compulsory for schools but not for other educational buildings, e.g. higher education centres. However it is still helpful in setting out recommended design criteria.

Stroma can provide valuable assistance in the design stage of such developments - as well as undertake the final completion testing - to ensure design criteria are met.

 

Site Requirements

 

A number of conditions are essential on site to enable a set of compliant tests to be carried out. These conditions are a combination of regulatory requirements and common sense and are necessary to obtain satisfactory results.

Summary of site requirements:

• Our sensitive equipment only runs off 240V power supply and it must be available within the rooms which require testing.
• Are the rooms finished? Testing should be conducted in rooms that are essentially finished, but still unfurnished. Doors, glazing, skirting boards and all other fixtures and fittings should be installed.
• A reasonably quiet site.

Stroma undertake out of hours testing at the clients request to ensure the best test conditions. We urge all prospective customers requiring sound insulation testing - especially for building regulation compliance - to view our site readiness checklist. (Link/PDF)

For further information or clarification on this important issue, please contact Stroma's head office to speak to a member of our acoustic team.